Wooden column.



UNTTED STATES PATENT @FETS/E@ HARVEY J'. BEABES, OF SOMERSET, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSGFNOR TO SOMERSET DOOR AND COLUMN COMPANY, OF SOMERSET, EENNSYLVANIA, .A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

WOODEN COLUMN.

Application tiled March 24,

To all whom #may concern Be it known that I, HARVEY J. BnABns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerset, in the county of Somerset and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain neiv and useful mprovements in ialooden Columns, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention rela-tes to hollow built-up Wooden columns and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements whereby to facilitate the assemblage of the column sections; to provide for keying together adjacent column sections; to provide for effectively maintaining the column sections in their proper relations While keying the same; to provide for drawing together the sections at their outer edges, under any tendency to separate by reason of shrinkage, climatic conditions or eects of the Weather.

"W ith these and other objects in view, the

present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details may be made, Within the scope of the claims, Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a crosssectional view of a built-up Wooden column embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective vien7 of the tongued edge of one of the column sections. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective vieiv of the grooved edge of one of the column sections. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective vieW of one of the keys.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each of the figures of the drawing. A

The present column is made up of a plurality of longitudinal column sections, each of which is a duplicate of the other and therefore a description of one section will be suliicient.

Each column section, designated l, is of a length equal to that of the column, and is Wedge-shaped in cross-section, tapering toward the inner face of the section or to- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 2'5, 1915.

1914. serial No. 826,880.

Ward the longitudinal center of the column. The meeting edges of adjacent column scctions are disposed substantially radially With respect to the colunm, and have a tongue and groove connection, so that one of the meeting edges of a column section is provided with an integral longitudinal tongue 2, preferably located adjacent the inner face of the section, While the opposite meeting edge of the saine section is provided With a longitudinal groove 3, corresponding in cross-sectional shape and dimensions to that of the tongue. By this arrangement, When a plurality of column sections are assembled in a circular series, the tongue of each section lits the groove of the next adjacent section, whereby the several sections are held in their proper relation after being assembled.

In addition to the tongue and groove connection, I also propose to key together the adjacent sections. This keying of the sections is carried out by the provision of registering and corresponding keyways 4 formed in the meeting edges of adjacent column sections, and into such keyivays is driven a key 5 which preferably extends throughout the length of the column. The outer face of the key is provided with a substantially V -shaped groove or channel 6, and the keyways have undercut walls 7 disposed at such angles as to properly engage with the Walls of the groove or channel in the key. The purpose of the channel in the key and the undercut Walls of the keyways is to produce a Wedging effect upon adjacent column sections at t-he joint therebetween, so that any tendency of the sections to separate along the joint at the outer side of the key Will be counteracted and prevented by the Wedging action of the inclined Walls of the groove or channel 6 on the undercut walls of the keyways, whereby open spaces or cracks on the exterior of the column along the joints of adjacent column sections is effectually prevented in a very simple and convenient manner.

Ordinarily the column sections are made of soft Wood, and therefore it is proposed to make the keys of hard Wood in order that they may perform the desired Wedging action on the column sections.

It is preferred to locate the keys about midWay between the inner and outer faces of the column sections, and the tongue and groove connections are idisposed between the keyways and the inner faces of the column sections. VThis disposition of the tongue and groove connection at the inner side of the key leaves the column sections undisturbed along the joint at the outer' side of the key and therefore does not interfere with the wedging action of the key on the adjacent column sections.

Inasmuch as it is immaterial Whether or not adj acenty column sections separate at the inner face of theA column, it is unnecessary to have a V-shaped channel or groove in the inner face of the key, and therefore I prefer to make the inner face of the key straight7 whereby a very simple form of key is provided Which can be produced quickly and inexpensively. Moreover by having only one undercut or oblique Wall for each key- Way, the shape of the keyvvay is simplified and it can be produced conveniently and: inexpensively. Y

In forming a column embodying the features of my invention, the column sections are rst arranged' in a circular series. With the tongues of successive sections engaging the grooves of` adjacent sections, and thereafter the keys are driven endivise into the respective keyways, the tongue and groove connections holding the sections in their assembled relation during.` thel driving of tlic keys.

In a `column constructed in accordance With my invention there are no nails or other extraneous metal fastenersV which are liable to rust and become loose. The fastening elethe column sections along the outer face ofl the column thereby preventing unsightly cracks in the face of the column.

Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for Having thus described my invention what I claim is: Y

l. A column comprising a plurality of longitudinal sections having tongue and groove connections, and longitudinal keys driven in between the column sections and located at the outer sides of they tongue and groove connections said keys being arranged to draw the outer meeting edges of the sections together and permit separation by shrinkage of the inner edges of said sections, the tongue and groove connections preventing access of moisture to said keys.

2. A column comprising a plurality of longitudinal column sections having tongue and groove connections, and longitudinal keys driven in between-'the column sections and located at the outer sides of the tongue and groove connections, each key.v having a 'substantially V-shaped channel in its outer face, and the meeting edges of adjacent column sections having registering keyivays shaped to receive the key.

3. A column sectionV tapered transversely to produce converging meeting edges, each of the meeting edges having. a longitudinal keyivay having one of Vits side Walls disposed at substantially right vangles to the meeting edge of the sectionand its oppositeVV side Wall disposed at an angle to the meetingedge of the sectionl to forman undercut Wall, one of the meeting edges having a longitudinal groove located between the adjacent keyway andthe inner edge of the section, and the other meeting edge of the section having a longitudinal tongue corresponding. to the groove in contour and loca- Y tion. a

In-testimoifiy whereof I aiiix my signature in presence ofttvofvvitnesses.

j HARVEY J. enanas. Vitnesses MARY-GRANGER, S.` B. FRIEDLINE.

five cents each, by addressingithe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,` .'D. G. 

